Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Tradcat on February 01, 2014, 08:33:00 AM
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All you JD Berry bow owners who own or have shot BOTH bows, tell me which one you prefer and why ? I'm having a very tough time choosing which one to order. Thanks ! Tradcat
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I can only relate my experience with the Taipan since I don't own or have had the opportunity to shoot a Morningstar. The Taipan with the forward grip just points naturally and fits my style. It is quick, very stable and shoots a wide variety of spines perfectly. Others here do have both and they will chime in with a better suggested comparison.
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If you want and like an r/d bow, then you won't do any better than the Taipan. I bought a Taipan from James and ordered a Morningstar. Then I made a mistake and let my friend borrow the Taipan to shoot. He would not give it back.
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/bard9l/IMG_2007_zpsd496ff49.jpg) (http://s41.photobucket.com/user/bard9l/media/IMG_2007_zpsd496ff49.jpg.html)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/bard9l/IMG_2005_zps87ec9004.jpg) (http://s41.photobucket.com/user/bard9l/media/IMG_2005_zps87ec9004.jpg.html)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/bard9l/IMG_2004_zps979b47b2.jpg) (http://s41.photobucket.com/user/bard9l/media/IMG_2004_zps979b47b2.jpg.html)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/bard9l/IMG_2000_zps2abef350.jpg) (http://s41.photobucket.com/user/bard9l/media/IMG_2000_zps2abef350.jpg.html)
I got this Morningstar from James. I won't let anyone touch this bow but ME!
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/bard9l/IMG_2038_zps999cc0e3.jpg) (http://s41.photobucket.com/user/bard9l/media/IMG_2038_zps999cc0e3.jpg.html)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/bard9l/IMG_2034_zps7b7d92c7.jpg) (http://s41.photobucket.com/user/bard9l/media/IMG_2034_zps7b7d92c7.jpg.html)
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e285/bard9l/IMG_2032_zpsc4e67fff.jpg) (http://s41.photobucket.com/user/bard9l/media/IMG_2032_zpsc4e67fff.jpg.html)
Both bows are forward handle. The Taipan "might" have a little more speed, but the accuracy of the Morningstar is uncanny. PM if you need any more info.
Danny
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Tradcat,
A lot of it will boil down to your preference. If you are wanting a straight limbed bow then by all means go morningstar. If you are looking for a r/d bow go the taipan.
The Morningstar will have a little more feedback at the shot than the taipan but it is still a very we'll behaved bow. Danny is right in the fact that the Morningstar just seems to naturally hit the target.
My taipan is my go to 3d bow, as it it just seems to shoot a wide range of arrows, is quiet , gentle in hand and accurate .
I have a love for straight limbed longbows , hence why I own every model James makes, but the Morningstar sees more shooting time than any of the other bows, and it is also my goto hunting bow as you can do every bad habit when shooting and it still throws an arrow at your spot.
Best bet is buy one of each. Lol
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Oh Wow, that Morningstar sure is pretty!
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My Morningstar is, as far as I can tell without going to shoot it thru the chrono, as fast as my Robertson. I would think the choice would be more in the particulars of how you would use the bow and how you shoot. If your use and shooting style resembles Howard Hill, the Morningstar; if it is more like Fred Bear, the Taipan with a locator grip of your preference.
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Danny, what are the specs / wood combos on your Taipan? I've always wanted one, but was thinking more about the Apollo which I think is made on the same form. I'd probably go with a 64 or 66" bow. I was just wondering what length yours is and what woods are in the riser and lams. It's a sharp looking bow and the black glass goes very well with the rest of it. Yours doesn't have the "hook" nocks either, right? Thanks...Ed.
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Ed - The Taipan nocks are actually buffalo horn and are not the hook type. The riser woods are bubinga and walnut with maple overlays on the back and osage, ebony and walnut on the belly. The limbs are bamboo.
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Danny, that is a great looking bow! It looks like Berry spent a lot of time and care crafting it. I like it a lot.
The other one, the Morningstar, is pretty but it looks complete backwards to my eyes. The guys who own and shoot them rave about their qualities, but I can't get past a hill style being shot backwards. To me, it looks like a left handed bow with the leather wrap on backwards, complete with the stitching on the belly side. Hope I don't come across as mean spirited cause that's not my meaning at all. If I ordered one of those, I'd get a left handed model and string it backwards. :)
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Originally posted by foxbo:
Danny, that is a great looking bow! It looks like Berry spent a lot of time and care crafting it. I like it a lot.
The other one, the Morningstar, is pretty but it looks complete backwards to my eyes. The guys who own and shoot them rave about their qualities, but I can't get past a hill style being shot backwards. To me, it looks like a left handed bow with the leather wrap on backwards, complete with the stitching on the belly side. Hope I don't come across as mean spirited cause that's not my meaning at all. If I ordered one of those, I'd get a ileft handed model and string it backwards. :)
You're not alone. Rics taipan is stunning, but I just can't get past the appearance of the forward handle like the Morningstar. Like you I mean no disrespect, just different tastes!
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This is Mikes Taipain
http://youtu.be/SNZHQqNMEkk
This is his Morningstar
http://youtu.be/0nMBF2W72FI
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Here is my taipan
http://youtu.be/d4Am7XdcjRs
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foxbo and NBK -
I hear what you are saying, but you may possibly be letting visual prejudices overrule good judgement. The forward handle is the most stable type you can put on a bow. For example, many bowyers build forward handle bows, but do not promote them as such, i.e., BW, Habu etc. The forward handle is also the best design to keep an archer from torquing the bow. The limbs are in the palm his hand while the handle is forward. On a standard" Hill style bow, the limbs are about 2" in front of the palm allowing the limbs to move to one side or the other throwing the shot off. That is much less inherent with a forward handle bow. More stability, less torquing equals better accuracy.
You might want to try this little exercise if you don't believe me. Take your hill bow (don't worry about stringing it) and place it in you hand as if ready to shoot. Then tighten your fingers a little on the grip. See the bow twist and how much the limbs move? Now, turn it around in your hand and place the limbs in the palm of your hand. Don't worry where the shelf is as you are not shooting it. Grip it again as above. Less movement, right?
That's the ability of the forward handle to improve your accuracy. Less torque, more stable, better accuracy.
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On the original Hill thread I brought up the reverse grips. My first Hill way way back was a reverse. I had a standard grip longbow once that definately had left/right issues, I fixed it by completely retillering it and it picked up speed. I have read all of the remarks how they just don't look right from various folks, to each his own. But when it comes to feel and feeling your shot, this Morningstar that I have is it, and mine is as fast as my other bows and my other bows are faster than most when comparing them at my draw. Danny says no one shoots his Morningstar, except him, same goes for mine.
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Times 3, on what Ric and pavan have said, I can shoot any of the Duo-Flex models or ASLs. But for me I enjoy the feel of the Morningstar in hand, shooting or just holding it, A plus when someone comes up to me and says "Sir, you have your bow string up backwards" I just smile, knowing I am ahead of the game. James
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I on the other hand will allow anyone to shoot any bow I own.
This includes both of my JD Berrys(Vixen-"The Amazon Lady" or "The Amazon Queen").
I am very happy with my Berry bows.(Big understatement)
But unlike my friend Ric O'Hay I will not allow anyone to leave my house with either of them.
Ask Mr O'Shay if I didn't learn something from him....lol
God bless,Mudd
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James looking foreword to my North Star. Good luck to the sea hacks yes I spelled that wrong I'm three miles away stuck in nj. Lol.
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Having recently had both a Morningstar and a Northstar, I can honestly say that what Danny (Ric O Shay) wrote is right on the money. I'm on James list for this spring, and I believe it's going to be the straight limbed Morningstar. Looking forward to talking with James again when my name comes up.
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Originally posted by Ric O'Shay:
foxbo and NBK -
I hear what you are saying, but you may possibly be letting visual prejudices overrule good judgement. The forward handle is the most stable type you can put on a bow. For example, many bowyers build forward handle bows, but do not promote them as such, i.e., BW, Habu etc. The forward handle is also the best design to keep an archer from torquing the bow. The limbs are in the palm his hand while the handle is forward. On a standard" Hill style bow, the limbs are about 2" in front of the palm allowing the limbs to move to one side or the other throwing the shot off. That is much less inherent with a forward handle bow. More stability, less torquing equals better accuracy.
You might want to try this little exercise if you don't believe me. Take your hill bow (don't worry about stringing it) and place it in you hand as if ready to shoot. Then tighten your fingers a little on the grip. See the bow twist and how much the limbs move? Now, turn it around in your hand and place the limbs in the palm of your hand. Don't worry where the shelf is as you are not shooting it. Grip it again as above. Less movement, right?
That's the ability of the forward handle to improve your accuracy. Less torque, more stable, better accuracy.
Ric, I believe you, it's just the jealousy coming out! I'm afraid to shoot one fearing that I will experience exactly what you're saying.
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YOu would be surprized how fast the feel of the Morningstar seems to be secure and normal, you would also be surprized how funny a standard grip feels after you have taken a few hundred shots with the Morningstar.
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Originally posted by pavan:
you would also be surprized how funny a standard grip feels after you have taken a few hundred shots with the Morningstar.
This is so true right here.
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Ok guys . Morning star. Vs. North Star ?
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That is not a fair question.
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Dan - Which limb do you prefer, back set or string follow?
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This is a very close call. I own the North Star, and have shot the Morning Star. I prefer back set slightly over string follow.
By the way, I have a Taipan on order. What has happened to many of us, is we realize what an artist James is, how well his bows shoot, and what a relative bargain they are when compared to almost any other bow on the market. With JD Berry bows, buying one usually leads to a second purchase, or third, or fourth. Ask Brianlocal3 and Mudd. LOL.
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Ric I'm likeing. String follow these days. Just seems to feel good to me . And I don't care about the speed thing . Smooth well behaved. A little bit slower. Like us !
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I own two different Elburgs with the reverse handle. One is a 66"er and the other a 68"er. They both shoot very well and I understand the shooting qualities of the reverse handle. Neither of the elburgs have the hill style grip. They're straight on the belly side, but more rounded on the back.
The Morningstar seems to have a "dished" grip on the back and straight on the belly. Maybe if the back wasn't dished, or more rounded, it wouldn't look so weird to my untrained eyes. I'm sure it shoots very well but it gets my mind off balance and that ain't too hard to do. :)
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Personally I prefer the morningstar, but I prefer backseat to stringfollow.
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(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y100/foxbo/longbow1_zpsf52a5a34.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/foxbo/media/longbow1_zpsf52a5a34.jpg.html)
Here's a pic of one of my reverse handle Elburgs. This is the 68" Jaguar, 56#@ 28". Very sweet shooting bow.
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If "Ric O'Shay" wouldn't tease his friends with the new additions to his bow family he would have more bows. Course he might then have fewer friends. Oh well. You win some and lose some. As for J.D. Berry bows, you can't go wrong with either one. I'd recommend paying your deposit and getting on James' list and then making up your mind. The list ain't getting any shorter, that's for sure. :thumbsup: :biglaugh:
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Foxbo,
Love your Elburgs. Thanks for sharing!
Moots
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I didn't have time to read all these posts but I say get what your used to based on how you hunt for now. if you tight in the trees and use a blind and already shoot a R/D bow get the Taipan, if your on the ground or you do have experience with longer bows in trees and in blinds get the Morning star.
I personally like his traditional bows but I will get a Taipan too at some point.
2 totally different bows though,